Welcome Wakerlings, Matt's Birthday & Happy Fathers Day!

We are so lucky to have family that comes and visits!  My dad, grandma, papa and my dad's girlfriend all came to visit us last weekend.  Of course Ethan got extremely spoiled with lots of attention.  He loved every minute of it, showing off his new ability to pull himself up on furniture, wave, give high fives, and clapping. Our little guy is finally at the age that he can interact with people so its really a treat to see everyone interacting with him.   It was extremely hot, in the triple digits so we didn't go outside much. But we made due.  Friday night we went out to dinner and had an excellent meal at North by Northwest.  My grandma couldn't stop raving about the sauce on her steak and we all enjoyed some of their delicious brewed beer.  After we went over to the Oasis for some after dinner cocktails and to watch the sunset over Lake Travis.  We found a great table off to the corner and sat on the deck it was absolutely perfect (except it probably could have been a few degrees cooler).  

Everyone at the Oasis 

Saturday we decided that we wanted some good old fashion Texas BBQ. A couple of people told us about a place called Louie Muellers in Taylor Texas.  This place was so authentic it didn't have air conditioning, the walls were probably white at one point but are now brown from years of smoking meat in there.  They had a wall of business cards that were also brown from the smoke.  I don't think you could get more old fashion as you did there.  The line was out the door so we battled the heat and waited an hour for our BBQ.  Everyone shoveled down ribs, brisket and turkey all agreeing it what delicious but starving from the wait.  Next time I think that we will place an order to go! 

Texas BBQ at Louie Muellers

Sunday was fathers day and Matt's birthday!  We cooked up a nice brunch including linguicia they had brought from California to keep the Wakerling brunch tradition going.  Bill and Gerry joined us as well so it was quite the celebration.  We had scheduled an air conditioned bus tour of Austin for later in the afternoon but some freak traffic ( I have never seen traffic like that since I've been here) we ended up canceling and got stuff to make homemade pizzas.  Matt makes his own dough and everything, it is absolutely delicious if I do say so myself.  Everyone watched True Grit and after we had birthday cake!  Overall it was a great weekend.

Ethan and his papa sporting A's attire in Texas

Three generations- Great grandfather, Grandfather & Grandson

 

Family Fun

This last weekend we had a lot of excitement!  First it was Gerry's birthday on Friday the 10th so we all went to her house and surprised her with party hats, presents, and cake!  It was a lot of fun we even had Tuck wear a party hat too.  Bill got chinese and we all piled around the table and ate.  After we sang "happy birthday" and ate chocolate cake.  The girls helped her open her presents, it was a great way to celebrate.

Its party time - grandma and her granbabies!

The next day we went back over to Bill and Gerry's because Gerry's family was in town.  Her sister Judy and husband Horace came from Dallas, and her brother Jim came from Arizona!  Well actually Jim was on a road trip going from state to state visiting family so technically he came from Ohio.  Everyone brought something and we had a big bbq Texas style potluck.  After we stuffed our faces the girls and Ethan put on their swimsuits and played in the backyard.  Jenny brought the girls slip and slide and we brought Ethan's pool.  We set it up so Ethan could watch the girls as they did a variety of slides and he thought it was so funny.  He laughed and splashed while they took turn after turn going down.  Pretty soon he wanted to investigate for himself so he crawled out of his baby pool and over to it.  He lost interest and decided to explore the grass and backyard.  He was so fearless it was impressive.  I think he learns a lot from just watching the girls.  The day before he was following them around the house, we told them to crawl in front of Ethan and soon enough they had a train going!  Ethan was tagging a long behind them crawling as fast as he could to keep up all the while squealing in delight.  It was so nice to meet that side of the family, they are such a pleasure to spend time with.  Hopefully we can do it again soon!

All the kids with Judy

Willa & Uncle Jim

The backyard water park

Gerry, Jim, Judy 

One last little side note because its too darn cute to not share.  It has been so hot here already in the triple digits, so poor Tuck has been dying with the fur coat.  Not to mention shedding all over the place.  Ethan would be crawling around and have Tuckers love as Matt likes to say "he is just spreading his love and he has a lot to give" all over him.  We made the decision to have him shaved.  When he came out the door of the groomers I didn't even recognize him.  And even two days later I am still caught off guard when I look at him.  He looks so different, like a puppy!  Tuck is already showing signs of appreciating our decision.  He is a way happier pup.

After 

Before 

Our Big Boy!

Last Saturday we got invited to a friend of Matt's nieces first birthday party.  It was super cute all done in a carnival theme.  They had rented actual carnival games and had a clown named Silly Sparkles, she was not your typical scary clown she was actually pretty cute.  Since it was 100 outside where the party was taking place we took Ethan inside were he proceeded to play with the birthday girl and her toys!  They were super cute crawling and chasing one another, it was pretty obvious we need to find Ethan a friend.  She had a dinosaur that made noise and lit up that you could use to help walk.  Ethan loved it.  He pushed it through their living room and into the dining room.  It also can be converted into something they can ride on later.  A few days later we went and got it at Toys R Us and of course when we got home he all of a sudden was scared to walk with it.  So Matt decided to take him for a ride.  Tucker was having a ball chasing them and Ethan was giggling up a storm.  He surprisingly held on very well as they flew through the living room.  I got a video of it, my favorite part is in the beginning when Matt says "walking is for sissies" as he makes his car revving noises.

We have been working on clapping with Ethan for a while now.  Every time we would sing the song If Your Happy and You Know It he would laugh and giggle but no clapping.  Everything else we have taught him he has caught on pretty fast, but for some reason he just wouldn't clap.  Lately we would see him do it here or there and just like always all of a sudden he just decided today will be the day I clap and that was it.  Now if you say " Ethan Clap!!" he immediately gets a huge grin on his face and claps.  His latest and greatest also is to say Da Da.  We know he doesn't know what he is saying but now we have a chatter box that he can say some form of Ma Ma and Da Da.  Maybe Tuck Tuck will be next!

Today Ethan went for his 9 month check, I know we are a little late but with the move and all it took us a bit to get set up here.  He was so incredibly good.  Matt and I were floored by how cooperative he was.  In fact the Dr. came in and said I was in my office and didn't hear a peep when he was getting weighed and I thought that is weird.  Ethan immediately became shy and hugged Matt and then peaked at her and smiled.  Nine months old and already flirting with pretty doctors!  I am proud to say he is a healthy baby, here are his stats:
Weight : 20lbs 4oz  (45th percentile... feels like he weighs way more)
Height: 29.5 inches (75th percentile .. looks like he got the Wigmore height!)
Head: 46.5 cm (75-80 percentile.. proof he is a genius!)
We were so surprised when we heard his weight.  Matt and I were guessing before hand how much he weighed and lets just say we were off by a few pounds.  He feels like he weighs so much more.  I like to think its because he has a lot of muscle from crawling and it weighs more than fat!  We had to take him to the lab to get blood drawn which is standard for a nine month check up.  They want to test their iron levels.  Dr. Campbell his old Dr. told us they would be doing this when we got him checked out but that it would be a heel prick test.  So Matt held him in the chair and got his leg all ready and then said "wait where are you taking the blood from" and the lady said "his arm" Matt and I looked at each other with looks of I don't believe that's possible.  Sure enough in his little arm they found a vein and the water works began.  I was facing him and the look he gave me was pure betrayal.  He got over it quickly though and as soon as we drove off he was passed out and took a two hour nap.  Later he was crawling around and being silly as ever the whole thing completely forgotten.

Check out my tape and cotton ball like a big boy