July - Trip Up North

At the end of July, we took a trip to Illinois to visit family and to attend Reid and Nicole's wedding. We had a great week hanging out with the family and meeting the new members...Athena, Ayden, and Abby. The wedding was fantastic and a lot of fun. Marc served as one of the groomsmen in the Hawaiian themed wedding, and Nana was the officiant!!

Ethan had a great time at the airport. He was excited that we got to take a bus (van) to the airport, then we got on a train, then a plane!! As usual, he slept the entire way there and for most of the way home.

On the "bus" to the airport

Our cousin Athena (with cousin Shelley)

Cousin Ayden

And cousin Abby with her mommy

Ethan trying to tell Reece something

Wearing Reid's White Sox hat!

Getting ready to punch Daddy in the nose

Got em!

Family photo before the wedding

The Spector Clan

Ethan and Hunter on the getaway golf cart at the wedding

Hunter, Ethan, and Jacob

Reid, Judi, and Nicole

The new Mr. & Mrs.

Ethan being...Ethan

Tearing it up on the dance floor

June - Father's Day, Potty, Haircut, and More New Toys!

Playing with Buzz...this used to be Hunter's

Daddy makes a comfy chair

June was a busy month! We started the month off buying Ethan his very own potty!! He's started telling us when he goes (sometimes) so we thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and get him used to the new potty. He's also moved up to the Toddler class at school and they have a really potty (just miniature sized) and they get the kids to sit on it at every diaper change. Occasionally he'll ask to sit on the potty, but it only lasts for a few seconds. But it's still progress, right?!?!?!

I know he'll kill me later for this picture, but I can't resist!!

Father's Day started a week early for us. Grandpa and Jimmy came to visit for the weekend. We had fun swimming at the pool and watching Marc's soccer game. On Sunday, almost the entire family came up for a cookout. Ethan had a great time playing ball with Jimmy and Grandpa. He can even say "Grandpa" now!

My Grandma, Grandpa (my dad), Ethan, and Me

Ethan playing catch with Jimmy

On Father's Day, we went to Aunt RaRa's house to hang with the Spector clan. We had a relaxing day swimming and teaching Ethan how to hit a baseball (new toy #1 for the month). Ethan is still not loving the water. But we are still working on it! He did get in for a few minutes with Aunt MeMe, but it didn't last long.

Daddy teaching Ethan to swing the bat

The following weekend we took Ethan to get his haircut again. And I am pleased to say that this time he did so much better than last. The stylist let Ethan play with her water bottle which kept him happy and occupied and got her all wet! It's a cute cut, but I have to admit that I miss the shaggy hair.

Before the cut

And after! He looks like a big boy!

Ethan's other new toy is a basketball hoop. He's not quite tall enough, so he'll use his little step stool to shoot. He definitely takes after Marc with his athletic abilities!!

This past weekend Ethan and I took a trip to Alabama to visit my friend Cindy and her family. Ethan was a little shy and timid at first, but he seemed to turn around on Saturday. Cindy's husband Kacey wrangled the kids all day on Saturday so Cindy and I could work on our scrapbooks. Ethan had a great time with Olivia and Harrison. I could tell though that he was happy to be home. He ran like crazy for about 2 hours and then crashed out on the couch.

Ethan and Olivia

Crashed out on the couch at home after a long weekend

We hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th!!!

May - Mother's Day, Play Date, and a New Toy

Everyone will be wearing their shorts on their head in the future...

The hat that was saved from being sold in the garage sale!

At the beginning of May, we thought that Ethan might have an ear infection, so I took him to the doctor just to be on the safe side. I am happy to say that there was no infection and Ethan did MUCH better at the office this time.

I want to be just like my daddy!

Ethan also got a new toy this month…a slide from Gram!!! He loves it! He’s mastered the stairs and the slide and can even climb up one of the “rock wall” sides.

Waiving to the airplane

Ethan is becoming a big help around the house. He absolutely loves throwing away trash, helping with the vacuuming, unloading the dishwasher, and helping Marc mow the grass. He’s also really good about cleaning up his toys when we ask. And don't think about leaving a door open!! Whenever he leaves a room, he has to close the door behind him.

Doing chores in your skivvies is fun!

Helping Daddy mow the grass

Mother’s Day was awesome this year! We spent the day at Judi and Barry’s and my mom, Grandma, and Aunt Susan came over. We had a great day just relaxing and eating great food. Grandma brought Ethan my old tricycle back from Florida. My dad did some work on it and now it’s ready for Ethan…too bad his feet don’t quite reach the pedals just yet.

Grandma, Mom, Me, and Susan

Ethan and I on Mother's Day

Ethan's attempt to ride the trike

He was bound and determined to go somewhere!

Climbing the steps in Nana and Papa's backyard

While this doesn’t have anything to do with Ethan, my birthday was this month…the big 3-0. It was great!!! Ethan went over to Gabe’s house and we had dinner with Felicia, David, Megan, Jeremy, Staci, and Michael at an awesome restaurant called Chow Baby. Thanks to all for the gifts, laughs, and memories!!!

Megan, Felicia, Me, and Staci at Chow Baby

We had another play date with Gabe, Sadie, and their parents. We took the kids to the pool. I am sad to say that Ethan is still not very fond of the water. He likes to hang out by the stairs, but if his feet don’t touch, he’s not happy. We thought that him seeing Gabe in the water would help, but no such luck. We’ll keep trying!

Hmmm....what can we do with these?
You be on the lookout while I hide the tennis ball!

It's exhausting being so cute