Lizard and Gorilla

We have really been having fun teaching Ethan to make all sorts of animal gestures and sounds. He can make sounds for a dog, snake, sheep, duck, lion, bear, monkey, and tiger. He can make gestures for an elephant, lizard, and gorilla. Yes, there are some obscure animals in that list and we've yet to master the basics like a cow or cat. Here he is showing off a couple of his skills.

San Diego

Last Friday Ethan and I headed down to San Diego to visit my sister. Her husband was in Africa for 10 days so she needed some company and I've been looking for an excuse to go down to visit her. Ethan did fabulous on the flight down. I was a little nervous having to entertain him myself, but he did a super job of sitting...something he doesn't do often and I had a very gracious woman beside me with a seat in between us. It worked out well.

It was so great to see Eric and Kara's place. It was crazy being in my "little sister's" house, as we are always at my house or my parent's. It was fun to see her as a wife and in her element. I enjoyed going to their church and meeting their friends and seeing the places they like to walk to and hang out in. It helped to picture her all grown up now:) Thanks sis for letting me into your life for a while.

Kara picked us up Friday and we hung out at her place and went for a walk to see her neighborhood.

Kara and Eric have a studio with a loft and lots of fun "stuff" for a one year old to get into. Most exciting was the stairs. By the end of the weekend Ethan made it up and down the stairs all by himself. One time he even hauled my running shoes all the way up with him. Why he thought that would be a good idea? I'm not sure.

On Saturday after Ethan's morning nap we headed out to the San Diego Zoo. We're not sure who was more excited to go, Mommy and Auntie Kara or Ethan.

This was the hippo habitat and fish tank. Ethan loved looking at the fish and knocking on the glass.


Auntie Kara and Ethan posing by the Elephant.

This is Ethan doing his sign for please (which is actually the sign for more, but he uses it for please) while he was watching the elephant.

After church and a nap on Sunday we headed over to "Dog Beach." Once we got there I realized why it was called Dog Beach. There was literally a dog for every 2 people there. I have never seen so many dogs in my life. But if you know how much my son loves to watch dogs, you know he was in heaven. He loved the sand, water and dogs. He had his first experience eating sand....he wasn't a fan!

Testing out the water. So much warmer than Northern CA!

Here is a picture of a section of the beach. Look closely and you'll see all the dogs!

Kara flew back up north with us on Monday. It was nice to have an extra set of hands. Ethan wasn't as thrilled with remaining seated for an hour and a half on the way home.

On Tuesday my mom, Kara, Ethan and I went out to my parents house in Monterey. Kara hadn't seen it yet and my mom had some stuff to bring up. They have furniture now so it is fun to see it take shape.

Smiling for Auntie Kara and hanging out with Nana.

Our little monkey...so much energy!

We stopped at some outlets on the way home. Ethan was loving playing in the cars. He would get in and stand up on the seat, hang on to the railing and yell. He is such a little boy!

All in all it was a great week. We had lots of fun with Auntie Kara and can't wait for the next time she visits.

Squeaky Clean

As per Auntie Kara's request, here are a couple more pictures of Ethan. We've been trying to comb his hair every night when he has a bath. Believe it or not, I combed it for the first time about 3 weeks ago....being so curly it never seemed like it had to be combed. But after encountering quite a few knots, I decided we should comb it on a more regular basis. I love the way he looks with it combed, he looks so grown up. Kevin thinks it just looks like he has a mullet. So here are a couple pictures just out of the tub.

Not the most flattering picture of me, but I know you're all looking at Ethan anyways:)

FORE

Ethan recieved a set of golf clubs as a gift when he was born. I don't know that he's really old enough to play with them, but he knows what they are and LOVES them. Especially when daddy helps him swing and hit the ball. We may have a future golfer on our hands as he knows what Papa's golf cart is, where the golf course is by our house, and what you do with a golf club. He can say golf cart and golf course too....if you know what he is saying.

Psalm 23

A friend of mine forwarded the link to this video to me. It is a super cute video of a little girl, maybe 3 or 4 reciting Psalm 23. Check it out.

http://www.godtube.com/view_video?viewkey=9e7c4b40cf5a13cea6ca

Outside boy

Ethan LOVES to be outside. He isn't walking yet, so he crawls everywhere. The cement, dirt, and grass don't bother him one bit. Here are a few pictures of how clean he stays outside:) Good thing bathtime was right when we got inside!


He is sitting on his little slide that we have in the backyard. He is pretty good about climbing up onto it and can usually get down the slide too....head first.

Monterey

This Saturday we headed over to Monterey to stay in the house my parents purchased with another couple. The only furniture they have there now is a couple mattresses. We figured that was enough since we usually end up on the floor playing with Ethan anyway. It is a beautiful house that we can't wait to enjoy with a a few couches and a kitchen table.

Right when we arrived we had dinner and then headed down to the beach on a walk. Ethan is practicing walking a lot these days.

Here's Ethan and I by the ocean along 17 mile drive. It was a gorgeous evening!

Ethan enjoyed watching the ocean too. He sat there for about 15 seconds, just enough time for me to snap this picture.

On Sunday morning we headed out pretty early for a walk further down 17 mile, along the ocean. Again, it was a beautiful morning. Not a cloud in the sky. Unlike Monday morning which was really foggy.

These are 3 of the 5 deer that like to hang out behind the house and along the 17th fairway. They were around most of the morning, even when the golfers came by. This morning they were almost on our porch following a cat. Ethan was quite intrigued with the deer.

Sunday afternoon we headed out to play on the beach. This was our first time playing on the beach with Ethan. I was surprised how much he liked playing in the sand. He wasn't too sure about the ocean though. He liked looking at it, but didn't care to put his feet in it. I don't blame him, it was freezing!!