Robot Pinata Birthday Pool Party!!

We are gearing up for Ethan's 3rd (but first) birthday party!  Woohoo!!

Posing by his birthday pinata

Work or Play

He scrubbed and then mopped the floor of the kitchen, bathroom and porch.  He is such a helper and it is so charming that he doesn't realize his play is work to us.

Hammering duplos together to make a tower

The Benefits of Having a Potty Trained Friend

Ethan takes a ride with Coleson who was rewarded for learning to use the potty with this tractor

Ethan and I Have Returned

Ethan and I had a wonderful trip to Spokane and the Tri-Cities.  Going to a water slide park for the first time was a definite highlight as well as getting to spend a lot of time with family.  The pace was quicker than our usual days and I experimented with being more flexible about his napping.  We both got pretty tired at times but it is obvious he is getting older and he can be adaptable with things like that.  I was really proud of how well he did!  I jokingly keep telling people that I need a vacation now that I am back from my vacation:)

 Cuddle selfie before we left.  Daddy missed these smiles.

Ethan's cousins, Carly and Drew.  Ethan got SO excited every time we saw them.

Ethan hadn't done much swimming until this year.  It is awesome to see how much he enjoys it and how comfortable he is.

 Wrestling with his big cousins

 After the sky ride and before a ride on the carousel at River Front Park, Ethan and Drew pose on the iconic suction goat.

Playing with Papa's tractor

A Week of Walking

Ethan has been running as fast as he can saying, "Look!  I'm running super fast!"  He is our happy, independent little guy again.  It is wonderful.

We can play at the park again!

We went to Omsi with Grammy and Grampy the morning after the 4th of July.  We had so much fun!  Can't wait to go back.

                      Astro Dad                        

Next to a robot from the Transformers movie

Indoor sand pit!  Awesome to see all these kiddos sharing and having fun.

 Future hydrologist in his water smock

 Learning with Daddy

 Astro Mom

Our little crafter was given diy finger puppets.  He loved punching out all the pieces.

 Getting serious with a glue stick

Raaaaaarrrrrrr!!!

Walking Again

Yesterday Ethan started walking again!  Hurray!!  It is so great to see him move.

 Chillin' in his rocket

 He was doing this the night before he walked again.  It was an awesome sign....

These were some of his first steps.  He was so happy.  He was singing a song while he walked around.

 Melty yogurt pretzels

The Cast is Off!

I didn't have time or energy to blog after Ethan's accident so this post begins at the end....Ethan is out of his cast!  He wore that beast for 4 weeks and he was a real champ.
Now for a short recap.  On May 28th Ethan got tangled in a toy and fell down while running in the living room.  A freak thing really.  Ethan had broken his right femur and would need a spica cast.  The days were long but the 4 weeks went by quickly.  Many thanks to everyone who sent him packages.  The toys, books, art supplies and goodies were really wonderful and helpful:)
Unfortunately he can't walk yet.  His hips and leg are atrophied.  We aren't sure when he will walk and the doctor said he will probably limp for a time so things are not back to normal yet.  Everyday will get a little better. He is cautious and a little scared to walk.  He is sad at times.  He is back to sleeping in his bed (he had been sleeping in a bean bag) and wearing only 1 diaper (he had been wearing 3 and they still leaked!)  He wants lots of "carry hugs" which feel much better now that the hard cast is gone.  He was given a soft tiger toy at the hospital which he found very comforting.  He put band aids on it and tape around it's leg so it would too have a cast.  Tiger came with us to the doctor yesterday and when Ethan learned he would be loosing his cast, tiger lost his too.

At the hospital

Home with Tiger and the bike bell mounted on the bar connecting his legs

A hair cut to help cool down 

First signer

Band aids make everything better

Drawing, painting, plah doh, clay, pipe cleaner creations, and stickering were popular activities

 Hanging out by the garden

For a fun day, we went to the zoo with Grammy and Grampy

Ethan LOVES these.  He also loves the circuit building set his cousins sent him.

Ethan began asking for food a lot out of boredom

Doctor Ethan removes Tiger's cast

Putting on his safety goggles and ear protection to prepare for the cast cutting

Getting ready with Dad

 Casts are too gross and you are not allowed to take them home.  We were offered the bar as a keepsake.  We declined. 

Celebrating the cast coming off with a picnic