Oh my am I growing

I can't believe that we are one month shy of Ethan's first birthday, in some ways it feels like just yesterday we brought him home and in others I am reminded of what a crazy 11 months its been.  I think one of the things I have enjoyed most a long the way is seeing the changes in him.  It boggles my mind that he went from not even being able to hold his own head to walking on his own two little feet (assisted of course not a solo walker quite yet but close).  Each time he hits a milestone I think to myself I can't get anymore excited or proud and then he hits the next one and some how I am.  Lately, it seems like he becomes more of a little person than a baby, almost daily he does something that pushes him out of baby land.

Two weekends ago was a first for me, I left him in the care of his grandmas (yes that is right plural he is that cool to have double the fun) and went away to Houston for a wedding with Matt.  We had a great time and really enjoyed our mini vacation and I know it was due to the fact that we knew he was in good hands.  To our surprise we came back and he didn't even want us (it hurt my feelings I am not going to lie), a sure sign he was well taken care of.  Not to mention the little bump of a belly sticking and the 7 oz he gained.  While we were gone he was introduced to peas, which have now become his favorite thing to eat.  He also learned how to flip light switches on and off, and if he grabs your nose he expects honking noises to come out of your mouth.  His Mimi (my mom) stayed with us for the week and treated Ethan to an early birthday present of a "big boy" car seat.  No more "infant" car seat for our little man.

I decided to try out a Gymboree class last week I have noticed more and more that Ethan is at the age were he wants to interact with other little human beings.  If he sees another baby his size or even a toddler he immediately starts jabbering away to them or starring at them.  So I figured a Gymboree class would be a good start.  When we got into the play area I set him down seeing what his reaction would be and man did I have another bout of hurt feelings when he crawled off and left me in the dust, not even a leg tug or unsure look towards my way.  It was the cutest thing seeing his reaction to all the new things he was introduced to like bubbles, he looked at me like "mom are you seeing this it's amazing."  He even  made a friend in the middle of the parachute they were sitting on, the little boy came up and hugged Ethan and Ethan spread his arms and hugged him back.  Everyone "awwed" at this and to seal the deal as if it say "we accept you into the club" the little guy licked Ethan on the forehead.  I think he was trying to kiss him, because when Ethan tries to kiss he sticks his tongue out too at any rate our boy is in!  As fun as it was Gymboree is way over priced for 45 minutes once a week so I think we are going to go in another direction, but it was definitely a great start.

An example of Ethan's constant ability to get into things he shouldn't

My mom got this tent with a tunnel for Ethan to play in the other day we couldn't find Tucker and this is where we found him.  He loves hiding out in there and if Ethan tries to come in he uses the tunnel connected to it as an escape route.

Ethan in his tunnel grabbing his ball.. so far the only way we can get him to go in it

Silly baby with my sunglasses.. quite the ham

His new cars seat looks like its comfortable

Matt and I at the wedding .. we got to see all of our friends from the Marine Corp it was a lot of fun catching up.

Ty, Jason, Josh, Brian, Matt
"Old Marine buddies"

Vote for Ethan !!!

We have entered Ethan into the Gerber baby contest!  You have to have facebook to vote but you can vote everyday.  Even if you don't have facebook tell your friends lets get this baby out there.  Hurray!

ENTRY ID: 147349

http://apps.facebook.com/gerbe​rphotosearch/entry/147349/etha​n.aspx

Ethan has been moving around quite about lately.  If it is strong enough for him to pull up on he does.  the other day he shimmied over to my leg from the ottoman to the couch and put his mouth on my leg, and quickly realized he could make noise.   It was the funniest thing.  After this charade went on for a while matt tried to mimic him and his reaction was priceless.  Beware you are going to laugh!!

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More fun with family from out of town!

This last weekend Shane, Auntie Kathy and Brian came for a visit!  Brian drove from New Orleans and Shane and Auntie Kathy flew in from California.  We had a lot of fun showing them around the Austin area, and stuffing them with all of our great food.  They stayed in a hotel near by so on Friday we took Ethan swimming for the first time in a big pool.  He didn't know what to think of it at first, he clung to me like a monkey and we couldn't pry him off me.  He wouldn't even go to Matt which has to tell you something since he is usually a daddy's boy.  But we figured out he wants me when he wants to be comforted and Matt when he wants to laugh, so in a big body of water he has never experienced before I guess it makes sense he would want me.  But after a while with lots of silly faces and noises we got him to relax and he started splashing around and kicking his feet.  Pretty soon he was bonking Uncle Shane on the head, splashing with Auntie Kathy and braving the deep end with Matt.  I think next time will be even more of a success.

First pool experience

Saturday we went to downtown Austin.  I had never been so it was a first for me.  We walked through the famous sixth street and up to the state capitol.  It has beautiful architecture with tons of detail.  It has this impressive ceiling that has a star in the middle so Matt said get a picture of Ethan I will hold him up.  I said "ok" and watched confused as he proceeded to lay on the floor I looked at him and said "now where do I go?" he said "under us" so I just got on the floor and laid down next to them and snapped the photo.  This was in the middle of the building with a crowd of people.  My aunt and Shane broke into a fit of laughter at the ridiculous lengths we went to get the photo.  After I said "why didn't you just put him above your head and I would snap it facing upward" he said "I don't know what I was thinking" it was pretty funny to witness.  We were pretty hungry since we walked to the capital in hundred degree weather so Matt came up with the idea of asking the "fattest security guard" where the best place to eat is he recommended a chili parlor down the street so we headed that direction.  Before we left we posed for a picture with a canon they had displayed on the grass, it looks like Ethan is riding it.  After that we dropped Ethan off to hang with Jenny and the girls since the adults were going to hit up sixth street.  Jenny said the girls had a lot of fun helping get Ethan for bed and feeding him, its so great we have that help!

Silly picture taking

Shooting a cannon baby

The result of our silly picture taking

The oasis 

Sunday we didn't do much since the boys were recovering from their night out.  But I did take them to the Oasis.  It was so crowded people were parking a mile away and walking in to be there.  We only stayed long enough for sunset and got out of there before we got stuck.  But it is still a beautiful sight to see the sunset over the lake.  Monday was the fourth and we had a BBQ at Bill and Gerry's.  Shane and Aunt Kathy made a really cute American flag cake so after dinner we all enjoyed our patriotic dessert.  We didn't see fireworks because they were banned this year since there are such dry conditions.  It was ok though because honestly I think Ethan would have been scared out of his mind since he is terrified of the vacuum cleaner.  We finished the night off with a movie and a bottle of wine.  Everyone had a great time, Brian even said we would be his new evacuation route when the hurricanes hit New Orleans!

Tuck & Ethan our little patriots

All american boy

Flag cake (we told Ethan he couldn't have any yet)