A sofa and chair that were delivered last week. Ethan seems to like them.
They may not be as practical as the leather we had before, you know for the spitting up/spilling/peeing, that could occur with a baby, but hey, we're risk takers. Plus, I love that E doesn't slide off like he did with the other, and it's much more comfy for him to nap on.
to this:
Sometimes when I hear him start to fuss in the morning, telling me he's done with the whole sleep thing, I am not happy about it. Okay, most of the time, it's way too early and I'm not happy about it. But then, I walk into his room and he greets me with that smile, always a smile, and I don't care anymore. This is big for me, because I am a huge fan of sleep, and those who disrupt it are usually not my friends. For E, it's completely worth it (most days).
Then, as I change him, he talks up a storm. I always tell him to tell me about his dreams, and he'll talk to me and chew on his hands the whole time.
Isn't he great? By the way, if you want to get in on this great moment, I'm sure Cory wouldn't mind you taking over his feeding anytime between 4:30 and 6:30. Just let me know....
Cory would like me to advertise that he has finished the 2-3 month video of Ethan. Check out the video link to the left to see it! (scroll down to the 'About Me' section)
Well, actually, her birthday was last Tuesday and we went to dinner with her, my uncle Mark, and my mom at Pappadeaux (yum!). Ethan was a good boy and slept most of the time, but here's a couple pictures from that night:
Then, yesterday was the actual luau celebration. We had good food, fun games, and lots of Hawaiian inspired fun. Diana bought Ethan some shorts to wear and I was forced to put on a grass skirt. Cory was in charge of the camera and when Ethan wasn't fussing because of his teething pain, (have I mentioned he's teething? fun stuff I tell ya) we got some nice pictures.
A nice one of Ethan and his Nana
Me and E (with a little bit of a pout)
Potato sack race action. They all must really love Diana to do this.
Ethan being entertained by Don so Dad could get a smile with the beautiful sky behind him
Ethan chewing on his hands as usual
E taking a nap in his new carrier with meA few weeks ago, Nana bought Ethan a Bumbo seat (after searching long and hard for one that wasn't blue or pink, why oh why is everything so gender specific?). Anyway, he likes it a lot. We put him on the counter in the kitchen (gasp!) even though it's technically "illegal," and on the living room floor in front of the tv (double gasp!). We're terrible parents, we know, but when you're stuck in the middle of "the witching hour" and trying to make it until bed time, the tv doesn't sound too bad. Plus, he really likes So You Think You Can Dance. Can you blame the kid? Anyway, here's some pictures of the little monkey in his Bumbo, and proof that he's not always using it in front of the tv (I promise).
In front of the tv
trying it out for the first time (in the new play room)
verdict is he likes it
surprised by the camera flash as usualSorry, I haven't had a chance to post this week, so we'll make this a catch-up post. Let's start off with last Saturday when we went to Lampasas for the Spring Ho Festival and a visit with Aunt Mary Lou. My mom's 30-year high school reunion was also that day, so we made it a whole event. Cory, Ethan, and I checked out the festival while Karen and Mom went to the reunion. Since it was Africa-hot outside, we only stayed for maybe an hour and then went back later with everyone. It is quite an interesting little festival called Spring Ho not because of the season (which would be smarter so it wouldn't be 112 degrees every year), but because of the actual springs there, and Ho because well, who knows. Like gung ho perhaps? Not sure, but the great thing is that there is a queen of the fest called "Miss Spring Ho." I really wished we would have run into her wearing that sash so I could snap a picture, but no luck. Oh well, here's some pictures from the day.
Heading down to the festival
Visiting with Mary Lou on the back porch (love the spit-up)
The sign about the springs
One of the springs
With Nana and Karen
The Festival
Ethan in the car
Taking a bottle break at the outlets
With Abuelo Miguel
Ginny, Michael, Mom
Michael, Mom and E
Ginny, Hannah, Me, and Mom
Our little giggle monkey is ticklish under his neck (just like his mama)
Being silly with Daddy
Snuggling with Dad (and watching tv... E LOVES the tv)As you know, the little guy has been laughing for a few weeks now, and the other day he had a whole giggle session in his Jumperoo. He was playing in it and looked so darn cute, so I grabbed my camera. After the first picture, he gave me his usual surprised face because of the flash. I asked him, "What was that?" and he giggled. So I did it again and got another giggle. Of course I kept on flashing the camera and asking him "What was that?" over and over again because as we all know, if something works, you'll do it repeatedly because the giggles are just so addicting.
So these picture are actually of him cracking up (someday I'll post videos on here so you can share the addiction): First, the surprised look, then laughing.
So as many of you know, I am big on traditions. This usually comes out in the form of Christmas traditions, but Fourth of July is definitely a close second. I absolutely love it. The family, the food, the fireworks, all of it, and I usually have a hard time when traditions change like when we had no fireworks one year or when we had a fake Christmas tree for the first time (I'm looking at you Gramma). :)
Well, when I was younger, we used to go down to Auditorium Shores for the Austin fireworks. The whole extended family would prepare a picnic, pack up the coolers, chairs, and blankets and get there early to insure a perfect seat. We would spread out and eat as we waited for the show to start. The guys who sold the glow necklaces loved us because we would buy a ton and always come up for new ways to wear them - "Will it fit round my waist still?" "Um, how about the thigh?." When the symphony would start to play, we would turn up our radio to hear it better and lay out on the blankets so the fireworks looked like they might fall on top of you. When the "1812 Overture" started, I would usually tear up a bit (yes, a big nerd I tell you) and think about how happy I was at that moment to be celebrating with the people I love most in the world. The fireworks would amaze me every year, and I was always sad for them to end. Afterward, we would pack up and make our way back to the cars. There, we would share a watermelon as we waited out the traffic. I looked forward to this holiday every year.
As time went on, the tradition changed, and we wouldn't make it to Auditorium Shores anymore. We started going to other shows in smaller towns where family lived, or we would go out to my grandparents' and shoot our own fireworks. I adapted, but it was never quite the same.
This year, for the second year in a row, we headed to Georgetown where my aunt and uncle live. You can see the fireworks from their front yard just above the tree line. This has been a good compromise for me to appease my tradition-craziness. We still eat, I make some sort of red white and blue dessert, and we make the not-as-long trek to the front yard for the fireworks. I sat there this year watching the fireworks surrounded by the family I've always known and loved, and next to Cory with Ethan on my lap, and for the first time in a long time, teared up again. I was just so happy with my newly created family, joined with my larger extended family, watching Ethan stare at the fireworks, and I realized this was what it's all about. Being with the people you love, sharing good food and good times. I still love all the great traditions my family has, and I hope to continue them and share them with Ethan. Some of them may be adapted along the way, and some new traditions may be created, but we will always make sure we are surrounded with love and happiness on the days that matter most.
I still refuse to get a fake Christmas tree though... baby steps for me. Sorry Gramma, we may just have to bring our own this year.
Here are some pictures of our fabulous 4th:
Ethan finally got to meet his great-aunt Mary Lou and great-uncle Jeff
With Mary Lou
Being fed by great-uncle Stephen
My cousin Anthony and me
Ethan getting comfy with Mary Lou (he says sorry about your shirt)
Our family
Sporting his 4th of July gear
The firework cupcakes I made
