Splash Pad

(Last one, I promise!  Trying to catch up from all the fun we've been having lately!!!)

Over the long weekend, we also packed a picnic and our swim gear and headed out to the Quarry Splash Pad in Leander.  This place is awesome and all three of us had a great time.  We got there pretty much when it opened so Ethan had almost the whole place to himself for a while until the kids started trickling in.  After lunch we headed out and by then it was pretty crowded, but this place is only $1 per person and it is fabulous... we will definitely be going back!  Here are a few pics and a couple videos from our fun day in water!

PS- He didn't fall down... just crashed into Daddy! :)

4th of JULY

We had a great time celebrating the 4th this year!!!  We saw part of the parade in downtown Round Rock and then Ethan played in the spraying fountains at the square while Dad held our place in line for airbrush tattoos... which we eventually abandoned, but I wanted to get Ethan a heart that says "MOM" since he was wearing a little muscle shirt.. haha!  Oh well, maybe next time :)

Then after nap time we went out to the celebration in Georgetown where they had a petting zoo, "train" ride and lots of food.  Ethan really enjoyed the petting zoo once he got comfortable.  He was definitely more found of the animals that were smaller than him (ie: piglets and bunnies!)  In fact, the piglets are what finally eased him out of Troy's arms.

 "Bunny!" :)

After the petting zoo little buddy rode the train and boy did he love that!  He was on the verge of a meltdown when he had to get out after our turn was over, so after we all got a bite to eat and a snow cone, he got to ride again with Daddy!  Then we headed home to get Ethan in bed and we watched the fireworks from our balcony.  An absolutely perfect day with our sweet family!

Little Fishie

Last Saturday, lil buddy had his first swimming lesson and seemed to really enjoy it!  Normally there will be 6 kids/parents in his class, but since it was a holiday weekend many of the other kiddos were gone.  At his age they mainly focus on safety and getting comfortable in the water.  Daddy went in the pool with him last week and I will go with him this week! They started out by gathering up a bunch of floating toys and putting them in a bucket.  Then they "swam" under a little waterfall to get used to getting their head wet, and swayed back and forth in the water to get their ears wet.  Then they laid back and looked up at themselves in a mirror, climbed up on the side of the pool and "jumped" off, and finally they climbed through a little jungle gym and practiced reaching for help.  So much fun!!!  I can not wait for tomorrow morning :)

Gathering toys

Reaching to put them in the bucket

We were supposed to be paddling in the water with our arms ;)

Jungle gym fun!

On the wall

Video: Alligator on the wall

Video: The Waterfall

One + 3/4

On July 3rd Ethan was 21 months old (or 1 3/4)!  I can't believe he is almost TWO... Crazy!  We are already getting things together for his second birthday party, a construction themed affair that will be on October 5th.

I don't have any growth stats to share for this post since he doesn't go back to the doctor until his 2-year visit, but I can tell from my biceps that he is getting big... and heavy!  And cuter by the day!  We just love this little guy so so much <3

What is he up to these days?  Well, he is fascinated with going up and down steps, stairs, curbs, etc.  He loves to climb on everything and throw everything.  He is a rock hoarder... uh, I mean a budding geologist ;)  But seriously, we have rocks stashed everywhere, in every room, and a whole slew of them outside.  He likes to watch tractors and big trucks.  He likes playing in the water, sliding on his slide, riding his tricycle (we push him!) and reading books.  He LOVES these Llama Llama books now!!! He still likes to push his ride-on toys (and stand on them) and of course, play with Molly!  In fact, he has his first "chore" already which is feeding Molly her dinner.  He really gets a kick out of that.  When we go jogging he loves watching the bunnies hop through the grass... he says "hop hop hop."  And... he gets very excited to sit on the potty!  Fingers crossed that will translate into an easy potty training experience a bit later.

His vocabulary is growing every day and he can repeat almost the entire alphabet.  He likes when we sing songs and can do the hand movements for Itsy Bitsy Spider, which is too stinkin cute (still need to get that on video)!  He is still a picky eater, and he mainly likes to smash, tear, dissect and throw his food.  He loves cold water with ice and even more so if it is in Mommy or Daddy's cup.  He makes a funny face anytime he eats/drinks something cold.  I guess since he is "big" now he needs less sleep too, because for the last couple of months he has been waking up at 6:30 almost every day...

 "Nevermind the bear... Look at me!"

 "I'm how OLD???"

"Cheeeese!"

"Isn't it hilarious when I act like I'm going to stand on here?!?"

"Am I a bird? A plane?"

"Look what I can do!"