Wedding Bells: Janice & Jon

Last weekend we made another trip to Houston for Janice (Troy's cousin) and Jon's wedding.  Ethan slept through the ceremony but we all had a great time at the reception.  It was nice visiting with everyone and Ethan LOVED the cake! :)

 Someone must've left their manners at home :)

Silly boys!

"Squirmy Matus"

Love <3

My other love!

Aunt Net, I want more!

Mmmmm... Yummy Cake!!!

With Grandma & Grandpa

 Congrats to Janice & Jon!

15 Months

I know, I know!  He is almost 16 months already, but ya know...

Little Ethan is busier and more fun than ever!  He also has the biggest belly ever :)  At his 15 month check-up he tipped the scales at 23 lbs 15 oz and was 28.25 inches.  It reminds me of the tea pot song... "I'm a little tea pot, short and stout"!  He wears 18 month clothes because that's all that will fit around his precious little buda belly!  Fortunately for him, rolled cuffs are in right now...hehe!  Okay, enough wise cracks about the little guy's weight/height... he got a great report otherwise and the doctor even commented on how great his social skills were and how pleasant his temperament is.

These days Ethan likes to... walk and run all through the house/yard, climb the stairs, play with (and ask for by name) bubbles, crawl through the doggy door and climb on everything!  Meal time is hit or miss and he hates pasta sauce now which was previously a favorite.  Fruit, meatloaf and cheese are about the only sure things.  Ethan has mastered drinking from a cup, loves playing on the playground (sliding and swinging, and moving mulch!), and still likes to push his toys up and down the entry way.  He is just now trying to sit/scoot on them, too.  He loves to play with legos, shape sorters, balls, and craft pom-poms, and he likes to carry around his teddy bear.  He also has an old Blackberry that he pretends to talk on.  He can sign to say "more", "milk", and "all done".  Other than Mama and Dada, his vocabulary includes, ba (ball), bubba (bubbles), ow-w (owl), a-da (sometimes also a-ba which is all done), and she-zee (Daisy). He can give kisses, which is my new favorite thing, wave bye-bye, clap his hands, stomp his feet and cover his eyes.  His daycare teachers, Ms. Michelle and Ms. Karen, tell us that Ethan has a little girlfriend (Olivia) and they enjoy "pillow talk" during nap time... such a little stud muffin! :)  Our biggest struggle right now is throwing food/cups on the floor.

Say Cheese!

Too busy to sit still for pictures!

Last week he had his first visit with the dentist and did pretty good.  He doesn't like to brush his teeth so he didn't enjoy that part, but he had fun walking all around the waiting room and was happy to crinkle his Thomas the train sticker all the way home :)  He has 4 teeth on the top, 2 on the bottom and his lower left molar just broke through yesterday.  The other 3 are not far behind. 

A few other recent pics and one more video...

Gnawing on a raw onion 

Climbing in and out of his wagon

A test drive in Daddy's shoes

Too much fun on the slide

Giggles and squeals!

Until next time... xoxoxo from all of us

Matus Family Christmas

Earlier this month we went to Spring to celebrate Christmas with Troy's family.  We drove down on Friday after work and thought we must have timed it perfectly since Ethan fell asleep at his normal bed time in the car and we successfully moved him from the car to the crib when we got there... we were so proud of ourselves!  Well, that celebration proved to be premature.  Ethan woke up at about midnight in a tizzy... probably wondering where in the world he was at.  We tried everything to get him back to sleep, but he was convinced it was time to play.  He was busy talking, doing sit-ups in the bed and exploring our facial features- despite pure exhaustion we really couldn't help but laugh! :)

Saturday we had our family Christmas get together and Ethan enjoyed playing with his cousins and all his new toys.  He got a tricycle and xylophone from Aunt Net and Uncle Schon.  Side note on the tricycle: We keep it on the patio and that was the carrot that finally lured the little guy through the dog door!!!  With that maneuver poor Molly lost her privileges to come and go at her will :)  From Dominik and Anthony, Ethan got a very fun Sesame Street microphone, a Curious George book, guitar, and clothes.  From Grandma and Grandpa Matus he got some really neat cars that wind up/take off, a polka book and shirt, a puzzle and more clothes!

Then Sunday before we left, the sun finally came out and Ethan got to go outside and play.  He rode on all kinds of toys and took a nice long walk all by himself (with Grandma).

 "I, Grover, am going to sing you a song"

Wrestling with his tricycle

Little buddy lost interest so his cousins are helping him open the rest of his gifts

He gets Daddy's nose... and now apparently everyone else's too!

Now Anthony's turn...

Cousins!

 

Such handsome boys!  Love them dearly <3

Playing outside with Grandpa

Ethan's 2nd Christmas!

We had so much fun this year having Christmas at home, although we were sad to miss the snow up in Dallas.  For breakfast Christmas morning we all enjoyed gingerbread pancakes, then we opened our presents.  We played all day and Ethan was pretty happy considering he was sick.  We even had our own little Christmas dinner :)

Ethan got a little tikes basketball goal, a remote control dump truck, a fishing set for the bath, a book and some new shirts.  Daddy got a new laptop and I got a new (BIG) handbag, so I can ditch the diaper bag! YAY!!! Despite all his new toys, little buddy's favorite thing to play with Christmas morning were some craft pom poms he found in the storage drawer under the washer.  Simple joys!

Sitting on his present... he LOVES climbing on boxes!

"I'm big, I can do it!" 

Daddy reading his new zoo book 

First fishing pole :) 

First RC vehicle... he loves remotes.  Daddy loves this present too!  ;)

Molly got treats for Christmas!  Little buddy was feeding it to her and giggling the whole time!!! 

A ride on his trike.. this expression doesn't do it justice!  (Sick & sleepy)

Pom, poms!

Ethan and all his Christmas loot... and he's not even done yet!

Dallas Christmas (this is a long one!)

The weekend before Christmas we went to Dallas to celebrate and visit with my family!  In case you were wondering, no Ethan did not see snow :(  We left to come home on Christmas eve and so we missed all the flurries.  Probably best since poor Ethan has been sick with another double ear infection and sinus infection!

On Saturday we went to my Aunt Sherrie and Uncle Bob's to see my dad's side of the family.  Ethan had fun playing with his cousins and we enjoyed the fun games and visiting with family that we don't see too often!  Ethan got a little people farm, an alphabet dino, a ride-on roadster that shoots balls, a golf set, and more.

Ethan and Easton playing with cars 

Pop tickling Ethan  

Opening his presents by himself!

Boys, Boys, Boys!  Pop, Ethan, Lukas, Poppy, Easton and Mason 

Some of his new toys from Lolly & Pop

Sunday morning we had Christmas at home with Gabby & Grandpa Cliff!  Ethan got a tricycle, a tent, some puzzles, a tool set, and a very special book :)

His first tricycle!

"Tools so I can help Daddy build things!"

 "I'm the best present there ever was!!!"

 Playing in his new tent/tunnel

Grandpa Cliff, Gabby and sweet Ethan

Afterwards we headed over to Memaw & Papaw's for more Christmas fun!  "Santa" saw, touched and chased chickens which he thought was extra fun!  We ate some homemade Mexican food, lots of Christmas candy, then opened a more gifts!  Ethan got a bubble mower, books, Cars racetrack, and some new clothes.

Daddy, "Santa", Papaw and the chickens 

Video: Ethan touches a chicken!

Opening more presents!

The whole clan

 As if this entry wasn't long enough... there are a couple more pictures I just have to share because they are too adorable!!!  We are so blessed by this sweet boy and wonderful family!

Lil Buddy stole this biscuit right off Gabby's plate! 

All bundled up for a ride in the little red wagon

 Still to come: Christmas morning at home and Christmas in Spring (next weekend).  I do apologize for the lack of brevity with this post!

Merry (pre)Christmas!

WARNING: LOTS & LOTS OF CHRISTMAS POSTS/PICTURES COMING...

We took Ethan to see Santa a few weeks before Christmas and fortunately we were able to go during the week and in the morning so we were the only visitors there!  Santa was so patient and took lots of time talking to us and letting Ethan warm up to him.  Then we took a few family pictures before leaving Ethan alone with Santa... he did great!  Not one tear was shed, and we even got a smile.  Afterwards, we enjoyed a nice family lunch next to the big Macy's tree :)

 

We found this adorable Santa costume on sale and HAD to have it!  We had a mini Christmas photo shoot with a strand of lights and some ornaments, and got lots of precious pictures...  He will definitely be Mr. December on our 2013 calendar!

 

 

The week before Christmas we went to the Trail of Lights at Zilker Park.  We parked at the mall and rode on a school bus to the park... Ethan thought that was too much fun!  It helped that there was a little girl in the seat behind us and they were playing peek-a-boo.  It was so so crowded there but we all enjoyed the extravagant lights!  Then little buddy and I twirled around under the 155' tall Zilker tree before we got back on the bus to go home!  We thoroughly enjoyed all this special family time!!!