Good Dog Tucker

Since the day we brought Ethan home Tucker has been nothing but amazing toward Ethan.  He takes his job as a "big brother" seriously.  In the first few weeks Ethan was home we had problems with him falling asleep while he nursed,  and Matt would say "Tucker wake your brother up" and just like he had been doing it forever he walked up to those tiny toes and delicately licked them until Ethan started wiggling again.  Although Ethan doesn't fall asleep while eating now the tradition has continued only while Ethan is in the bathtub!   Tucker has also definitely stepped it up a notch in the protecting aspect.  It has gotten to the point that the UPS man will not ring the doorbell anymore because just the noise of someone on our front porch sends him into a fit of barking and growling letting that person know he means business.    He is so good he lets Ethan lay all over him, yank on his fur and kick him with his feet and he just lays there with a goofy grin and takes it.  If Ethan is laying on his blanket guess who is sitting right next to him?  It kind of reminds me of one of my favorite childhood book "Good Dog Carl."     

Good dog Tuck Tuck

The other night Tucker had found an old baby (his stuffed deer) as I was rummaging through the downstairs closet, and man you should have seen him it was like he was reunited with his best friend.  He was flipping it around and tossing it up in the air and insisting on playing fetch with it.  I commented how it was funny that Tuck knew that this was his baby and how never once has he gone after the many stuffed toys we have laying around for Ethan.  Once again "Good dog Tucker."  Lately Ethan has taken more and more notice to Tuck.  We can be sitting on the couch and he will reach over himself and grab at Tuck.  One day after work Matt was making Tuck do some tricks for a treat and it just so happen to be in front of Ethan who was jumping in his favorite jumperoo.  We noticed Ethan giggling, he was laughing at Tucker doing his tricks.  Now every time Tuck does his tricks it sends Ethan into a fit of laughter.  His favorite is when Tucker jumps.  I think its because we tell him to jump all the time when he is in his jumperoo so he likes the word, or maybe he just likes seeing Tuck get air who knows.  I will tell you one thing though this comes in very handy when Ethan is having a fit, and I don't think that Tuck minds too much either because of all the extra treats he gets!  We truly have our own real version of Good Dog Carl only his name is Tucker and we think he is not good but a great dog.  Watch out I think we have a Timmy and Lassie duo on our hands!

Here are some videos of Ethan laughing at Tuck doing his Tricks or just at him!

Hello Texas!

The three of us just made our first trip to Texas.  This was going to be Ethan's first time he was going to meet his two cousins, auntie Jenny and uncle Joel.  Ever since Ethan was born we have heard adorable stories about Larkin and Willa and their excitement in meeting their new cousin Baby Ethan.  After a Skype date on Christmas it sealed the deal we had to go!  Ethan was amazing on the flight there and back in fact we had perfect strangers telling us they would take him on a flight no problem he was the perfect baby.  This came as a relief to Matt and I because we got upgraded to first class and you should have seen the faces of the other first classers as we took our seats.  We even had a flight attendant say "wow that is the youngest one I've had in first class (with a nervous look on her face).   He showed them!

                                     5 months old and already riding in first class

Love at first site is all I can say about the girls and Ethan.  I swear I have never seen Ethan the way he was with those girls.  It was Willa's third birthday while we were there and her Dr. asked her what she was getting for her birthday (before we came)  and she said "Baby Ethan!'  It got to the point that Ethan just had to look at the girls and he was bust up laughing.  We got the girls shirts that say "I'm the big cousin"  and Ethan a onesie that says "I'm the little cousin", Jenny came up with a genius idea to bribe Larkin to put hers on because she is obsessed with dresses right now (I'm taking notes Jenny) .  But I'm glad we did because it made for a great photo.

                                   They made the funny faces themselves!

We had a few goals while visiting Texas:

1. Eat at; Round Rock Donuts, Chuys, Whataburger, Salt Lick

2. Have quality family time

3. Go Boar hunting (Matt wanted to do this obviously)

4. See Kyle

5. Go to Bills church service (a prayer was said for Auntie Kathy & Annie)

I am proud to say that we accomplished all these goals and maybe over achieved on some.  My mom came to hang with the Texas clan, so we had lots of hands to help.  Matt and I even got to see a movie!  We even found room in our tummies for the famous banana pudding that I was obsessed with when I was pregnant with Ethan (yes it tasted just at good).  My highlight?  MY NIECES.. I miss them already they were so adorable with Ethan helping feed, bathe and just making him crack up.  But they would look at me and say "I missed you" talk about making your heart melt.  

Big helpers!

Auntie Jenny & Ethan 

                                                    Ethan and his grandma's

Inspiration

As everyone knows Ethan James has graced Matt and my lives on August 18th 2010.  Parenthood has been a life altering experience, and I have been wanting to share via blog for sometime.  Everyday Ethan does something that makes us smile, beam in amazement, and sometimes pull our hair!  As time has gone on he surprises me more and more everyday by his simple milestones.  Today while laying on his tummy he looked up at us and gave us the biggest smile as he wiggled his little legs in preparation for crawling, it seems like only yesterday he couldn't even hold his neck up.  He is getting more fun by the day as he transitions from a helpless baby, to a little wiggle worm with personality! I hope you enjoy reading about our trials, transitions, travels with our little man.  He can be quite entertaining!

                                           Our baby boy Ethan James!